Crossroads of Two Worlds

8- Just One Question: What the Heck?

Her eyes held wisdom, experience, love, and pain. So much pain, even more than what I had seen in others much older. Lord only knows what this woman had been through. I also observed the strange clothes she had on. They were like bath robes but were dark green and tied at the neck with a broach with four symbols, each in a different color. Layers of black cloth underneath the robes hung off her body. I couldn't figure out why she would desire to wear so many layers in July. At the very least, they looked quite soft and comfortable.

Her lips turned slightly upward, hinting at a smile, and I, more confused by the second, attempted a smile back. It was probably more of a bewildered grimace.

Why hadn't Chiron hadn't asked either one of us to leave? I was sure he would. He had nodded his head reassuringly and beckoned for me to come closer. So, still confused and concerned, I pulled up a chair in between the two of them and sat stiffly, waiting for someone to say something. I certainly wasn't going to be the first to talk.

Chiron looked at me and said in his smooth tone, "I love surprises, don't you, Alana?"

I shrugged, more demure than my usual style. Glancing anxiously at the old woman, then back at Chiron, I managed to speak, "Not all surprises are good."

He nodded, "This is true, but Alana, if you put it into perspective, whether a surprise is good or bad depends upon the recipient of it? And thankfully, people have the remarkable ability to change their own opinions, so a bad surprise, if thought of from a new perspective, could easily become a good one."

I shrugged again, "I suppose that could be true. But also whether that statement is true depends on who you tell it to. I, personally, am not completely sure people have complete control over their own opinions like that. In addition to not being sure about surprises, I also happen to have absolutely no idea why we are using such big words."

Chiron smiled at me, as if he were impressed, who knows by what. I hadn't felt this stressed all week. He folded his hands in his "lap" and spoke, "Alana, this is Professor McGonagall, she is the Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, an old acquaintance of mine."

As her title sounded important and impressive, so I held out my hand and shook hers firmly, "Pleased to meet you Professor."

She smiled warmly, "You as well, dear. I hate to be so informal, but I feel I should just tell you. As mentioned, I'm the Headmistress of Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I've come to inform you that you have been accepted."

I blinked several times and shook my head, I looked from Chiron, to Mcgonagall, and back, before abandoning my former decorum and almost yelling, "Wait, what?"

Professor Mcgonagall sat forward and looked at me seriously, "This is not a prank, nor a ploy to get you to come back home... it is-"

I interrupted excitedly, a grin spreading on my face, "Wait, come back home? Hogwarts is in Hawaii?!?"

Chiron almost grimaced as the Professor smiled sadly, "No, dear, Hogwarts is in Scotland, near England."

England was not my home. My heart would always lie in the warm sand, crashing waves, and blue skies of Hawaii. In my mind, England was full of prim and proper jerks and bullies. The only scenery therewas the skyscrapers.

I slumped back into my chair but had a sudden thought that I then blurted out, "But how could I be a witch? I'm already a demigod!"

"That is a fantastic question, Miss Faye. And one that even I have no answer to. We can test it if you like?"

I rubbed my face, feeling a headache start to form, "Please."

She reached into an invisible pocket in her several-layered robes and pulled out a stick. A stick it seemed at first glance, but I realized that the base of the stick had wavy designs in the wood that could never have occurred naturally. Someone had put a great amount of time and energy into this bit of wood. But if she was a witch... then, "Is that what I think it is?!"